Isolated Solo Track Below! I really didn’t want to do a Michael Jackson-related post because I hate being around a herd, but here I am doing it. Why? Because it encapsulates all the reasons why a) it’s nearly impossible to know for sure what Eddie Van Halen used on any song on any album and […]
Uses Marshall Valvestates on Tour?! Yes, that’s right, Marshall Valvestates – if you can believe it. That’s what the Rev. BFG said (sort of…more below), among other things, in a recent audio interview on MusicRadar.com. Highlights of that interview are below. Hats off to Joe Bosso, who conducted the interview, for asking a few gear-related […]
Based on a Jeff Beck Prototype Updated 7/3/09, 9:10 am EST at bottom of story Finally some closure (understanding of) the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop George Lynch Signature Super V pickup. The below info is from a recent thread on the Seymour Duncan forum, which referred to the following language from this post:
The following is from an entry on Brian May’s blog, edited for brevity: “For those who like to ROCK – in a classic grassroots, frig-off, out-and-out real way – this is the new album you have to get. “Chickenfoot are a new California ‘super group’ of wondrous musicians having a ball together and playing REAL […]
One of my favorite solos on a KISS tune is on one of the studio cuts from KISS Alive II: All American Man. It’s one of my (many) favorite KISS tunes, and guitar sounds too. I should also mention that I’m a huge Ace Frehley fan: He is THE reason I and many other guit-slingers […]
Wayne Charvel Suggested an Ash Body to Ed? Here are some more Edward Van Halen “back in the day” tidbits, though not as far back as last week’s article. We’ll go from farthest back to most recent. As with all Ed-related info, it’s best taken with a grain of salt because there’s been so much […]
One Man’s Recollections, Anyway… And: Why Ed Used a Variac and Greenbacks? [A quick request: Please do not copy and paste this entire post somewhere else. Thanks!] Not too long ago I had the pleasure of connecting with a guy who grew up with Eddie Van Halen. Ed went to the same high school, they […]
Too Nervous to Meet Clapton?! George Lynch is a gain maniac. Always has been, WAY before the Mesa crowd stormed the gates of rock. He was using solid state Randalls before anyone even heard about Dimebag Darrell (RIP, bro). So I read with interest recent comments he made in a Guitar Center interview. In it […]
Seems like someone at Guitar Center had the common sense to grab a videocam and get Joe Satriani to talk about his pedals. And talk Satch does. He says why he likes each one, what settings he uses, what the pedals can do, even the order (a little) of his signal chain. Sweet! And through […]
What’s in your tone? All of the below (please note any omissions!) affects your tone – IS your tone. It all matters. They’re all bricks and mortar for the tone you’re building. Even if you “luck out” – you plug-n-play and it’s there – everything in that chain matters. Change something, anything, and you might […]
Calling Ronnie Montrose! Are you a diehard Les Paul collector with a spare $300,000 or more? Then you’re in luck! A ’58 ‘burst les Paul, once owned by Gary Moore (but NOT now owned by him), is for sale on eBay. Here’s some info from the listing:
Even though my roots are in the shredder ’80s – but guys like EH, Randy Rhoads and George Lynch, not the ‘wanna-bes’ – it’s been a while since I’ve bashed on a Floyd or gotten excited about a guitar from a Japanese guitar company. I guess I’ve mellowed into the vintage scene…dude. Don’t get me […]
Gitcha WoodyTone “got wood?” Ts and more (suds stein, mug, sticker), all featuring ‘Crazy Eddie’ the nutty WoodyTone mascot guy, at the official WoodyTone SWAG store on CafePress!
We’re finally seeing sun here in Jersey for the first time in about 15 years, so it’s inspired a “head into the weekend with Van Halen” post. It’s Friday – I’ll keep it light. Three vids: the first a short convo between Jimmy Page and Les Paul in which they discuss EVH; then a KILLER […]
Does Angus Channel Koss? Almost 40 years since it was released in 1970, and still one of the all-time classic tunes: Do I need to say more? You know the riff, you know how to play it (or think you do, sorta) and you might even think you know what Paul Kossoff used gear-wise: a […]
Fair Warning Tone Ain’t All the Same
Got it in my head to figure out which Van Halen song tones – not album tones – I liked the most. Started with Fair Warning, whose balls I just can’t get enough of…which doesn’t sound so good but you get what I mean. Listen to it cranked in my car because that’s the only […]
Pondering VH’s Fair Warning Tone
LOVE the first four Van Halen albums. Always have, always will. Love the rest too, including the Van Hagar years (oops, forgot about VH III…), but those first four vinyl donuts are to me and many others just the nads. The nadliest of nads. They’re a band kicking the world’s butt in every way, and […]
Recently I was ruined yet again by a good amp. This time a bud’s Bogner Shiva, EL34 version. Let’s call him Sean – because that’s his name…. He’d been talking about how awesome it was for a while, and even though I know he has good ears, wasn’t too motivated to go try it. I’d […]
The Gene-EVH-Ace-Joe Perry Connection
Have you picked up “Guitar World Presents 40 Years of Van Halen” yet? Zactly – I didn’t even know it existed until I saw it in a bookstore (remember those? lol). Anyhow, I’m always amazed at how I think I’ve memorized every word ever written about Ed and his gear and then I read something […]
More On the YMI5150 Model-A Guitar
Few weeks ago I posted a brief “review” (outdated word) of Kevin Holbrook’s YMI5150 Model-A guitar. As a brief reminder, what got my attention were the following things: > A good wood combo: swamp ash, maple/rosewood. > An interesting and unique combo of components resulting in a Strat-shaped and -scaled guitar with an ABR bridge […]
Did You Read the Esquire EVH Piece Yet?
We’re going to have to wait yet another week for the interview with Kevin Holbrook of YMI5150 guitars because we have yet another newsworthy event. This time it’s the recent Esquire interview with Edward Van Halen. Now before you EVH fans get to getting your hopes up, let’s bear in mind the same ol’s: 1. […]
Show ‘Review’: Van Halen at the Garden
Took my 10-year-old son to see Van Halen at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 1. I think he was more excited to see them than I was – not that I wasn’t, but this was the mighty Van Halen whose tunes the both of us have copped, jammed to and listened […]
